Chapter 104
Chapter 104
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 104
Chapter Title: Eve of the Storm (6)
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"Tch. Go buy some bread."
That was the first thing Edelbert said upon seeing the Serif Free Pass.
But Serif just snorted derisively and made no move to act on it.
Grrrrowl...
My stomach let out a loud rumble at the keyword "bread."
Training with Edelbert was brutally intense.
Today we'd only done half the usual amount, but I'd already burned through a massive amount of calories.
Checking Diana's wristwatch, it was already 4 p.m.
I'd skipped lunch thanks to guard duty, and the hearty breakfast Diana had prepared had long worn off. No wonder I was starving.
Serif's gaze turned toward me. More precisely, toward the [Free Pass] I'd handed over.
"Serif. Maybe some brea—"
I'd blurted it out thoughtlessly because of Edelbert's comment, then stopped midway as realization hit me like a bolt.
'Is it really okay to tell a high-ranking temple official to go buy bread?'
No way in hell.
I was about to hastily retract my words when Serif pulled something else out of thin air.
It was a simple lunchbox containing ciabatta bread, a few slices of ham, and a dressed salad.
"You're hungry, right? It's diet food, so not a huge portion... but it should tide you over."
"Uh... thanks."
"No need to thank me. And honestly, you don't need to waste a Free Pass on something like this. It's only natural as a servant of the God of Knowledge."
Serif said this while swishing her white cat tail playfully.
'...This is a bit tricky.'
It said [Free Pass] and all, but that didn't mean I could order her around willy-nilly.
Serif wasn't some street bum or outlaw.
Considering her status and position, this [Free Pass] clearly had its limits.
For an extreme example: what if I used the Free Pass right now and said, "Spread your legs"?
Would she immediately go, "Yes, Master Balkan♡," spread her legs wide, and sway her white cat tail seductively?
No. Even in this insane world, that wasn't happening.
Besides, Serif was a devout follower of the God of Knowledge sect, which placed great emphasis on virginity and was extremely strict about sexual matters.
The moment I made a request that crossed that line, the God of Knowledge's iron hammer might come crashing down on my head.
So, to use the [Free Pass] properly, I had to gauge the appropriate boundaries.
'Maximize gains while staying within a line that doesn't ruin the mood or damage the relationship.'
For now, asking for food seemed to fall under "something like this."
I quickly filled my stomach with the lunchbox Serif provided and spoke up again.
"By any chance, could you grant me a miracle before my next Labyrinth run? The one I got from you last time was a huge help, so it'd put my mind at ease psychologically."
A level 50 high priestess's miracle.
Last time, I'd gotten it by sheer coincidence... but now I knew its true value.
It had effortlessly deflected the effects of a hobgoblin staff. Top-tier performance.
Most people piled up bundles of cash begging for a miracle, but unless they were chosen, they couldn't get one. A miracle in the literal sense.
"Of course I can. But like I said last time, I can grant you a miracle anytime, Balkan. So no need to use the Free Pass for this either."
Serif accepted with a casual smile, as if it were no big deal.
'Even this she brushes off so easily?'
For a moment, her yes-man vibe—nodding along to whatever I said—made me wonder if it was all a sham.
"Disciple. You heading into the Labyrinth this week?"
Edelbert's serious question snapped me back to reality.
"Ellie's academy graduation ceremony is coming up soon, so my next Labyrinth run will probably be in a month."
"Ah, right. Graduation's around now, huh. Bad timing."
Edelbert clicked her tongue in disappointment. I tilted my head questioningly.
"Something come up?"
"Hm... nothing major. The Labyrinth portal opens next week, and I'm planning to head in."
"You're going personally, Master?"
The unexpected news had me leaning in. Edelbert entering the Labyrinth herself?
"Won't take long. At most, I'll check out up to the 20th floor and the safe zone midpoint, Eden."
The midpoint safe zone, Eden, was on the 15th floor.
The casual way she said it—like a leisurely stroll—really drove home the gap between master and disciple.
"So you'll be away for a bit?"
"The deputy union leader who's been on dispatch will be back soon, so he'll handle acting union leader duties for a while."
Perfect timing. I'd be skipping the Labyrinth, and Edelbert would be away.
A faint smile played on Edelbert's lips.
"Your mouth's grinning ear to ear at the thought of no training."
"Haha. It's all for my sake anyway. I'll keep training hard even while you're away, Master."
I said that, but inwardly I was smirking.
No sparring to gain combat experience was disappointing, but dodging those grueling sessions to squeeze out max stamina was great news.
As I smiled, a faint smile returned to Edelbert's face.
"No need for the whip if my disciple pushes himself and grows on his own. As your master, that's truly rewarding. Here—a gift for your efforts."
The word "gift" had me cupping my hands like Pavlov's dog.
Edelbert pulled another item from thin air and placed the "gift" in my palms.
Gravity artifacts.
Four of them.
Eight times gravity.
Kuuuung!!!
"Gaaahhh!"
I resisted the sudden crushing weight bearing down on me.
"Hoo... holding up?"
Edelbert grinned wickedly as she fastened the gravity artifacts to my limbs.
Damn it. I'd fallen for the sly black cat's trap.
"Training must become your daily life to surpass your limits. In other words, turn your daily life into training, and you'll grow even faster."
"Y-You mean... wear these gravity artifacts all the time from now on...?"
"Quick on the uptake. Good disciple."
Daily life with these on? Was that even possible?
Paang! Pang!
I suppressed the urge to grab that perky black cat tail, yank it, and give it a good chomping lesson.
'A gentleman's revenge is never too late, even after ten years.'
Thrashing around now would just get me crushed in seconds.
I could pay back all these humiliations once I surpassed Edelbert.
I mentally added today's indignity to my "Edelbert Discipline List," then fought the gravity to stand.
Slither...
As I rose, Edelbert's shadow on the floor rippled.
"Nyaaaoong—"
A black cat emerged from the shadow, strutting proudly up to me.
The same black cat I'd seen at our first meeting with Edelbert.
"If anything happens while I'm gone, Shuding will help."
"This cat's name is Shuding?"
"Yeah. Cool, right? She's a familiar who can use simple magic."
"Sure... I guess..."
I couldn't comprehend Edelbert's naming sense, but Shuding herself stood there with a proud, majestic posture just like her.
"Come here, cutie."
I didn't hate small animals.
Unlike humans, they didn't scheme or envy out of malice, and watching them was healing. If anything, I liked them.
Maybe sensing that, Shuding approached with dignified steps.
I extended my hand to Shuding without thinking and said in a low voice,
"Hand."
Poke.
Edelbert placed her hand on top of my helmet.
"...?"
"...?"
Caught off guard by the sudden situation, I looked up to find Edelbert staring down at me, even more flustered.
"Uh... that was... to Shuding, Master."
Edelbert yanked her hand away.
"...Ah. Hm. R-Right. I knew that. Just... showing her how it's done, since she might not get it."
"Nyaaaoong—"
She stammered excuses in a rare flustered tone, but Shuding didn't even glance at her.
She just held out her paw to my palm.
"Pfft, the female cat's... quite taken with you."
Serif alternated glances between Edelbert and Shuding, her voice stifling laughter.
Her narrowed eyes seemed to mock Edelbert.
'Shuding's a girl too, huh.'
No risk of peanuts then.
"...Ahem. Yeah. Shuding approaching on her own... she really likes y— Eek!"
Edelbert, who'd been speaking calmly, flinched back a step.
Her black cat tail bristled in surprise.
Coincidence? It synced perfectly with me gently scratching Shuding's chin with my finger.
Shuding had obeyed my command instantly, so this was her reward...
"Myaaaaooong..."
Shuding, who had been standing so proudly, now purred as if begging for more.
"Hnn?!"
Every time Shuding rubbed her chin against my finger, Edelbert shuddered.
"Sh-Shuding seems tired."
"Myaaaong—!"
Edelbert gestured, and Shuding let out a sharp cry before slipping back into my shadow.
A blessing? It was a mystical sight that defied belief even after seeing it.
"...Don't call her unless it's a real emergency."
"Got it."
"...Still, feed her occasionally. She's well-behaved, so she goes into water easily—wash her now and then..."
I nodded at Edelbert's various instructions and checked the time.
Evening opening was approaching. Time to head back to the tavern.
I exchanged well-wishes with Edelbert, who was off to the Labyrinth for a few months, and made plans with Serif to visit the temple soon for a miracle before parting ways.
Time flew by.
Living with the gravity-boosting artifacts equipped every day was no easy feat, but my stubborn pride kept them on even while sleeping, and I gradually adapted.
I wanted a break, but I didn't skip training.
Effort now meant no regrets later.
"Heard the union leader went into the Labyrinth personally? It's been forever."
"Things are gonna get rowdy for a while."
"Hope those bootlickers don't start causing trouble now that we won't have to watch our step... Better steer clear of the lawless zone just in case."
"Gotta clean up those reformed explorer party members too."
"Deputy union leader's about due..."
Edelbert had entered the Labyrinth the moment this week's portal opened.
She went with three senior explorers from the union, from what I heard.
Diana's tavern's main clientele were explorers, and whenever customers gathered, talk inevitably turned to Edelbert.
As staff, I overheard their chatter until my ears blistered.
A few more days passed like that.
"Let's call it here for today."
I pressed my aching temples from the mounting fatigue and closed the Weakness Detection relic spellbook.
Now I understood why Edelbert stressed "full completion."
Reading this tome—thicker than any encyclopedia or textbook—cover to cover without skipping a single letter was no small task.
Still, repeating nothing but meals, bathroom, training, reading, and sleep for over a week meant I'd already passed the halfway mark.
I set the spellbook on the desk in my room.
Two books in the room made me feel like an intellectual. Satisfying.
'Gotta read that one too.'
The fairy tale grandly titled The Myth of the God of Knowledge and the God of Light.
I'd borrowed it from the temple for half a silver coin, but busyness meant I hadn't cracked it open once.
'Maybe after finishing the spellbook.'
Yaaawn.
I unwrapped the cloth buried deep in my closet.
Jermi's dumped ex-girlfriend's head came into view. Preservation magic, huh... still not rotting.
I spritzed it with water and rewrapped it. Creepy—I'd rather not look at it often.
Back to sleep, and the next day.
The morning of the academy graduation dawned.
Just in case, I'd scrubbed thoroughly at the palace bathhouse yesterday, shedding months of grime.
Pairing that peak condition with a crisply ironed suit, I looked pretty damn good.
Maybe it's immodest coming from me, but I cut a dapper gentleman figure.
Topping it with the helmet created a bizarre reflection: modern courtesy fused with medieval barbarism.
Fully prepped, I headed downstairs to the tavern, where Diana greeted me with hands behind her back.
Matching my suit, she wore a stunning dress.
"All ready, Balkan?"
"...Yeah."
I couldn't tear my eyes away from Diana in her dress.
If not for the tongue-biting shock therapy, I'd have stared blankly for hours.
'Thanks, Miss Silknes.'
I silently thanked the manager of Arachne's Miracle Suit Shop who'd coordinated this dress.
Diana adjusted her handbag and offered me her hand.
I took the shyly extended hand of my escort and boarded the carriage she'd readied in front of the inn.
Clip-clop...
With the sound of hooves, the carriage headed toward the noble district.